Middle East Legal Resources - Legal Advice Middle East

I got limited supervised visits for my kids befor divorce and I want increased visitation. What to do?

Q: Last year, I filed an urgent petition for child visitation in Abu Dhabi Court before the divorce, when my wife left home. The divorce was then finalized 6 months later & for the past 15 months, I’ve had limited supervised visits of 6 hours every Saturday. I`m now seeking increased visitation (may be 2-3 days), including overnights, given my consistent payment of child alimony and the strong emotional bond I share with my child. As per Federal Law No. 41 of 2024, Article 121, Clause 1, the other parent may request overnight visitation, and if there`s no mutual agreement, the court will decide based on the child`s best interests. I need to know whether I should file a petition, order a case, or an FIC case to request expanded visitation rights. (I understand that both types of cases go through the FG procedure).

My company terminated me for misappropriative conduct after filing a case for nonpayment of salary. What to do?

Q: Good afternoon, My company terminated my contract today, 26 June, alleging misappropriative conduct, and this needs to be appealed because I didn`t commit a fault. However, since June 2024, the company has not paid me 10 months` salary (I already filed a case in MOHRE the last 19 June). My questions are: 1. Can I claim the WPP insurance, even with the letter of termination? I understood that this insurance is for unpaid wages. 2. ILOE, I do not know if I can claim ILOE with this letter, because the allegation will take time to get a new termination letter, but I need some income to support me and my family. Thank you for your answers.

If I have no loan, credit card, or any other liability against a bank, where is my EOSB sent by my company?

Q: If I have no loan, credit card, or any other liability against a bank, where is my EOSB sent by my company? Can that bank block my account and stop me from withdrawing that money?

What can I do if the real estate management is not fixing the issue of blocking noise in my apartment?

Q: Hi, I rented an apartment 4 months ago, it is managed by a real estate company. I am going through a technical issue in the unit; the balcony door does not block the noise, and I live near a couple of construction yards. The property manager sent his team several times to fix the issue, and it only got worse (they replaced the original brushes with weaker ones). The balcony is attached to the bedroom, and I cannot use the bedroom for sleeping due to outside construction noise, especially during the night. Even earplugs do not help with the strength of the noise. The property manager is currently ignoring my requests to fix, saying that they cannot get a refund for the wrong fix, and according to them landlord does not agree to pay for another brush replacement. We have had an email exchange with the property manager for this issue for 3 months already. I don`t want to go through the DLD route, which is expensive (3K AED to register a case) and probably slow too. What are my options? Thank you very much!

My employer has not issued my residence visa yet and I am in overstay. What can I do?

Q: I came on an E-visa (employment visa) from Uganda to the UAE, and my employer didn`t make my residence visa. Now I have been in overstay for 24 days. What should I do?

The lessor is asking me to vacate the house for the reason of not renewing the lease. What can I do?

Q: The lessor is asking me to vacate the house, citing the following clause, even though I have not sublet the property. What can be done in that case? Clause - "Article (20) paragraph (3) of Law No. (20) of 2006 on the rental of premises and the regulation of rental relations between lessors and tenants in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi."

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How to get legal help with drafting a memo for a family case in cassation?

Q: I need help drafting a cassation memo for submission to the Abu Dhabi Court in a family case. I already have all the documents. Since there`s no hearing at this stage, I don’t need full legal representation—just memo drafting. My ex-wife is claiming 2024–25 school fees, though child support is already granted. First instance rejected her claim, but the appeal overturned it and ordered me to pay 16,000 AED. I want to file a cassation due to legal errors and flawed reasoning in the appeal judgment. My budget is limited.

What to do if the bank guarantee provided to Dubai Government Authority has been misplaced?

Q: “The guarantee is valid until 24.11.2021 and shall, before expiry, be automatically renewed until advised by you that the contract has been fulfilled. We have received an email from the Dubai Government Authority stating that the Original Bank guarantee has been misplaced, along with the reason that, due to the COVID period, many staff were working remotely at home, and the Dubai Government Authority has sent NOC for the release of the bank guarantee stating that" “Kindly release the bank guarantee No..... as the supplier has fulfilled the condition of the contract without any claim.” Further, the applicant has provided an undertaking cum indemnity to cancel the bank guarantee and release the underlying cash margin. So in the above case, the applicant has given the undertaking cum indemnity and beneficiary also confirmed by email that they have lost the guarantee so in such case. What further action does the bank need to take? Being the government authority, the bank may get less support in terms of documentation, so please advise.

Can I go without the bailiff to receive the keys of my house from the tenant based on a court judgment?

Q: Hi, My tenant was not paying rent, so I filed a case and won it. The court has given a bailiff eviction date of 7th July. The tenant also has outstanding rent plus court fees to pay. The tenant called me and proposed an out-of-court settlement. She is offering to hand over the keys today, along with her furniture, to compensate for the outstanding rent. I don`t trust the tenant as she has lied many times. She`s asking me to come visit the apartment to look at the furniture and take the keys. 1. Please advise if it`s ok to visit the apartment and take the keys and furniture without involving the bailiff. Do I need to report the furniture adjustment against the rent due to the court? 2. Can she create any other problem on my physical visit, although I have WhatsApp messages of her request? 3. Can she request payment installments from the court if I don`t agree to take her furniture? 4. Can I write down the settlement with her on a plain piece of paper with her signature?

How to Legally Protect Your Business in a UAE Commercial Dispute

Commercial disputes are a reality of doing business in the UAE, from unpaid dues to breached agreements. Navigating these challenges effectively requires a solid understanding of the country’s legal processes and court systems. This guide walks business owners through the key steps, from documentation and jurisdiction to timely action and legal representation, to help protect their interests and resolve conflicts efficiently.

Dubai Rent Increase Rules and the New AI-Powered Smart Rental Index

The rental landscape in Dubai is evolving with the introduction of an AI-powered Smart Rental Index, aiming to bring greater transparency and fairness. This article explores the legal framework that governs rent increases in the emirate, the rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants, and how the new Smart Index integrates with existing laws. Understanding these developments is crucial for navigating lease agreements in 2025 and beyond.

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الالتزام الصرفي

يُعدّ التوقيع على الأوراق التجارية خطوة قانونية جادة قد تترتب عليها التزامات صرفية لا يمكن التنصل منها. في هذا المقال نسلّط الضوء على مفهوم الالتزام الصرفي وأثره على الشخص الملتزم به.

How to Appeal Entry Ban to Turkey: Legal Guide for Foreigners in 2025

In 2025, entry ban to Turkey has become an increasingly common concern for foreign nationals. Whether due to visa overstay, administrative deportation, or other immigration-related violations, thousands of individuals find themselves subject to temporary or permanent bans that prevent them from entering or re-entering the country.

Can we file a case against a customer who launched a campaign online against our business reputation?

Q: Hello, A customer based in Dubai booked a public experience online on the website of a reputable business based in Dubai. The customer came to the business location, the team was ready to provide the experience as per her booking. The customer started to shout loudly, claiming that she was expecting a private experience. She refused to do the experience and left. Then she started calling the Management claiming a refund. The Management explained that as per the T&Cs, experiences booked online are public. The Management offered as a goodwill gesture to refund the customer after deducting the cost of preparations that were paid by the business to set up the experience. The customer refused. The customer used her Instagram account and as an influencer + Google review to launch a campaign against the business reputation, inciting her audience/people not to use the business services. She used signs of alert/warnings. Is there a law that punishes such public incitement in the UAE?

Tokenized Real Estate in Dubai: Legal Framework and Emerging Challenges

Dubai has launched the MENA region's first tokenized real estate project, allowing fractional property ownership via blockchain, regulated under a robust legal framework. Spearheaded by the Dubai Land Department, VARA, and the Central Bank, the system ensures legal enforceability, AML compliance, and investor protection. Key challenges remain around dispute resolution, cybersecurity, and public awareness.

العلامة التجارية بين أولوية الاستعمال وامتياز التسجيل

بين حق من بادر إلى استعمال العلامة فعليًا، وامتياز من سارع إلى تسجيلها قانونًا، تبرز إشكالية جوهرية في مجال حماية العلامات التجارية. يستعرض هذا المقال قراءة تحليلية معمقة للمادة (18) من قانون العلامات التجارية الإماراتي، في ضوء أحدث اجتهادات محكمة التمييز، بغية الوقوف على حدود التوازن بين أولوية الاستعمال وقرينة التسجيل.

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